Perched on an elevation of 3,415 metres above sea level and within the picturesque district of Uttarkashi, Gangotri Dham is one of the most scenic destinations among all the other Char Dham Yatra portals. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the thriving and tick pine trees and with the holy river of Bhagirathi making its way through the town of Gangotri, this temple marks the point of emergence of one of the holiest rivers in India, Ganga. Not only is Gangotri Dham a hub of immense spirituality but the pilgrims visiting here can also experience the unadulterated natural beauty of the surrounding it displays. A journey to this Dham seems extremely fruitful and peaceful and nothing short of perfect.
Location
Gangotri Dham is placed on the northern end of the district of Uttarkashi and in close proximity to the Indo – Tibetan border. It is located at a distance of almost 452 km from Delhi, 300 km from Dehradun, 105 km from Uttarkashi and 229 km from Rishikesh. Regular buses, private cars and shared jeeps ply on a regular basis from various parts of big and small towns of Uttarakhand to Gangotri making reaching this holy Dham an extremely easy task.
How to Reach
- By Road – Gangotri Dham is considered to be one of the most easily accessible Dham portals in the Char Dham Yatra Journey. It is well connected with a network of roads from all the nearby and neighboring destinations in Uttarakhand. The road will lead you up directly on the entrance of the main dham shrine of Gangotri. The road route has to be one of the most convenient and easy way of reaching the Dham either by some bus service or by your own private car.
- Brief Route Map of Gangotri Dham from Delhi: Delhi – Dehradun – Mussoorie – Chamba – Tehri – Dharasu – Uttarkashi – Bhatwari – Gangnani – Harsil – Gangotri
- By Helicopter – Reaching Gangotri Dham by helicopter is considered to be another easier and the more convenient option for people looking to cover the journey in a more luxurious manner. If you have someone with you who is either a senior citizen or physically or mentally incapable of making the journey then you should choose to go by helicopter. The journey will commence from the helipad at Sahastradhara in Dehradun and you will arrive at the helipad in Kharsali after covering a journey of 45 mines. The village of Kharsali is situated at a distance of just half an hour and after the pilgrim gets off from the helicopter they will be duly escorted to the main Dham shrine with the help of a palki service.
- By Train – The closest railhead for Gangotri Dham is situated in the holy town of Rishikesh which is located at a distance of almost 260 kms which can be covered within almost 7 hours. Once the pilgrim debarks at the station and then from here people decide to hire cabs or taxi services and make their way to the main temple Dham shrine. This is the case for all the other Dham portals of Uttarakhand as well.
Best Time to Visit
When is the best time to make your holy Journey to Gangotri Dham? Gangotri Dham is perched on a high elevation and it remains cool even during the summer months. The months of April / May to early July is considered to be the most appropriate and the best time to visit. Apart from this the months of early September to October / November are also considered to be a good time for a holy visit.
Suggested Tours
